We are Creating Overlay of Multiple Charts Together Overlaying different kind of charts could be understood as a work of art. It is possible to overlay the charts using different types of charts. However, we do need to choose the chart that makes it very easy to understand the full picture, by looking at the combined charts. The chart at a whole must give the full picture of the chart as a whole. The comprehension of combining different charts are about making it easier for the overlay to be effectively understood just at a glance. For instance, using a pie chart in combination with a 2-bar chart would compromise the effectiveness of overlaying your charts. We are going to overlay different charts together, and I will be using Microsoft Excel 2013 for this overlaying creation.

We are going to start right from the beginning, and not assume that you do have everything set, and we can just start to overlay the charts.

Gathering all Your Data

In this step, we are going to get the data we need for further exploration.

You should start with writing the titles of the data. It is possible for you to determine how many you would like for your overlay to live up to your expectation. But, I would recommend at least two.

You should write the data in a way that is similar to the one showing in the picture below.

You should now choose on the title columns. You can do it by simply clicking on one of the columns, and then click on the CTRL button on the computer’s keyboard, while using the arrow key to choose the rest of the columns. Now you should click on CTRL and then press B, which means bold.

Creating a Chart

Click on any of the column, and then press CTRL and A on your keyboard. This is something that make you select all of the columns, as you could see in the picture showing below.

Just click on the insert tab. This is marked in black, and titled number 1. Click on the chart, and choose the 2d-bar chart, which is labeled as number 2.

You should choose the title that you would like to give the chart.

Overlaying the Charts

We are now going to start and overlay charts. We are going to do so, step by step.

Click on any of the data series, as it is marked as number 1 in the chart showing above. You could click on any of its part.

You should see the design tab showing. But if you do not, you should just click on it, as it is marked in black and labeled as number 1, and then choose change chart. This is labeled as number 2.

The first thing you should do is click on "all charts" tab, which has been labeled as number 1. The second thing is clicking on combo, as it is marked as the number 2. If you'd check beneath the chart that is showing in the picture above, you would see all the series names. You should just choose the chart type, which is the number 3, 4, and 5 in the picture. You should choose the type of chart you find suitable for the overlaying of your charts.

Now decide how it would look like while making the overlay of charts. In the number 1, we have chosen different kind of chart, and if you'd check number 2, you are seeing how the overlay is taking effect. If you are pleased with the overlay, you should click on number 3, which is ok.